gender neutral
Leslie
garden of holly
About Leslie
Leslie brings unexpected versatility and gentle strength, challenging naming conventions while remaining perfectly wearable. This name has evolved beautifully over time, now offering boys a sophisticated option that stands apart from hypermasculine trends. The soft 'Les-' opening combined with the flowing '-lie' creates a melodic quality that's both approachable and distinguished. Parents choosing Leslie for their sons often appreciate names that defy rigid gender expectations while maintaining complete legitimacy and historical precedent. The name has been worn by accomplished men throughout history, giving it solid masculine credentials despite contemporary perceptions. Leslie offers the advantage of being instantly recognizable yet increasingly uncommon for boys, providing distinctiveness without strangeness. The pronunciation is straightforward across accents and languages, making it internationally accessible. It's a name that suggests creativity, sensitivity, and intelligence—qualities many modern parents hope to nurture. Leslie works beautifully in professional contexts while feeling warm and friendly in personal settings. For families seeking a name that breaks molds thoughtfully while honoring tradition, Leslie presents an intriguing, sophisticated choice that gives your son room to define himself on his own terms.
Popularity of the Name Leslie
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #167 | ||||
| 1881 | #135 | ||||
| 1882 | #119 | ||||
| 1883 | #110 | ||||
| 1884 | #115 | ||||
| 1885 | #112 | ||||
| 1886 | #114 | ||||
| 1887 | #90 | ||||
| 1888 | #99 | ||||
| 1889 | #106 | ||||
| 1890 | #96 | ||||
| 1891 | #98 | ||||
| 1892 | #93 | ||||
| 1893 | #95 | ||||
| 1894 | #87 | ||||
| 1895 | #81 | ||||
| 1896 | #85 | ||||
| 1897 | #83 | ||||
| 1898 | #90 | ||||
| 1899 | #96 | ||||
| 1900 | #91 | #14 | |||
| 1901 | #89 | #16 | |||
| 1902 | #85 | #14 | |||
| 1903 | #89 | #12 | |||
| 1904 | #91 | #13 | |||
| 1905 | #94 | #11 | |||
| 1906 | #88 | #13 | |||
| 1907 | #94 | #14 | |||
| 1908 | #95 | #10 | |||
| 1909 | #96 | #11 | |||
| 1910 | #102 | #16 | |||
| 1911 | #117 | #12 | |||
| 1912 | #108 | #12 | |||
| 1913 | #105 | #9 | |||
| 1914 | #103 | #12 | |||
| 1915 | #106 | #14 | |||
| 1916 | #112 | #12 | |||
| 1917 | #107 | #10 | |||
| 1918 | #102 | #11 | |||
| 1919 | #105 | #11 | |||
| 1920 | #110 | #13 | |||
| 1921 | #106 | #13 | |||
| 1922 | #114 | #14 | |||
| 1923 | #112 | #18 | |||
| 1924 | #107 | #19 | |||
| 1925 | #119 | #20 | |||
| 1926 | #126 | #17 | |||
| 1927 | #126 | #20 | |||
| 1928 | #128 | #21 | |||
| 1929 | #136 | #23 | |||
| 1930 | #139 | #18 | |||
| 1931 | #139 | #21 | |||
| 1932 | #142 | #27 | |||
| 1933 | #137 | #35 | |||
| 1934 | #134 | #23 | |||
| 1935 | #131 | #23 | |||
| 1936 | #128 | #29 | |||
| 1937 | #131 | #29 | |||
| 1938 | #135 | #31 | |||
| 1939 | #136 | #33 | |||
| 1940 | #136 | #31 | |||
| 1941 | #126 | #35 | |||
| 1942 | #127 | #33 | |||
| 1943 | #121 | #32 | |||
| 1944 | #114 | #39 | |||
| 1945 | #115 | #39 | |||
| 1946 | #119 | #36 | |||
| 1947 | #124 | #42 | |||
| 1948 | #129 | #45 | |||
| 1949 | #126 | #45 | |||
| 1950 | #126 | #53 | |||
| 1951 | #124 | #47 | |||
| 1952 | #125 | #56 | |||
| 1953 | #135 | #57 | |||
| 1954 | #137 | #51 | |||
| 1955 | #138 | #57 | |||
| 1956 | #152 | #58 | |||
| 1957 | #156 | #69 | |||
| 1958 | #161 | #69 | |||
| 1959 | #175 | #73 | |||
| 1960 | #185 | #77 | |||
| 1961 | #190 | #78 | |||
| 1962 | #183 | #94 | |||
| 1963 | #192 | #93 | |||
| 1964 | #197 | #90 | #91 | ||
| 1965 | #180 | #110 | #113 | ||
| 1966 | #197 | #106 | #118 | ||
| 1967 | #212 | #99 | #107 | ||
| 1968 | #223 | #141 | |||
| 1969 | #224 | #144 | #123 | ||
| 1970 | #234 | #139 | #117 | ||
| 1971 | #238 | #127 | #112 | ||
| 1972 | #249 | #161 | #126 | ||
| 1973 | #247 | #175 | #110 | ||
| 1974 | #273 | #162 | #124 | ||
| 1975 | #281 | #158 | #121 | ||
| 1976 | #327 | #215 | #147 | ||
| 1977 | #311 | #224 | #140 | ||
| 1978 | #336 | #223 | #142 | ||
| 1979 | #341 | #216 | #193 | ||
| 1980 | #354 | #178 | #195 | ||
| 1981 | #352 | #192 | #199 | ||
| 1982 | #391 | #219 | #220 | ||
| 1983 | #401 | #207 | #248 | ||
| 1984 | #439 | #249 | #303 | ||
| 1985 | #476 | #296 | #228 | ||
| 1986 | #443 | ||||
| 1987 | #530 | ||||
| 1988 | #516 | #262 | #293 | ||
| 1989 | #530 | #295 | |||
| 1990 | #583 | #259 | |||
| 1991 | #609 | #322 | #378 | ||
| 1992 | #697 | #321 | #323 | #482 | |
| 1993 | #735 | #497 | |||
| 1994 | #726 | #569 | |||
| 1995 | #784 | #307 | #466 | ||
| 1996 | #822 | #675 | |||
| 1997 | #879 | #821 | #426 | #868 | |
| 1998 | #952 | #771 | |||
| 2003 | #588 | ||||
| 1999 | #909 | ||||
| 2000 | #893 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Leslie
Names Similar to Leslie
Nicknames for Leslie
- Les
- Lee
- Lez
- Lester
Famous People Named Leslie
| Leslie Nielsen | Canadian actor |
| Leslie Cheung | Hong Kong singer and actor |
| Leslie Howard | English actor |
| Leslie Odom Jr. | American actor and singer |
| Leslie Mann | American actress |
| Leslie Phillips | English actor |
| Leslie Banks | English actor |
| Leslie Easterbrook | American actress |
| Leslie Grantham | English actor |
| Leslie H. Martinson | American film director |
| Leslie West | American musician |
| Leslie Fiedler | American literary critic |
| Leslie Bibb | American actress |
| Leslie Carrara-Rudolph | American puppeteer and actress |
| Leslie Marmon Silko | Native American author |
| Leslie Hope | Canadian actress |
| Leslie Thompkins | American comic book character |
| Leslie Gallimore | American soccer coach |
| Leslie Osborne | American soccer player |
Characters Named Leslie
| Leslie Knope | Parks and Recreation |
| Leslie Chow | The Hangover |
| Leslie Burke | Bridge to Terabithia |
| Leslie Nielsen | The Naked Gun |
| Leslie Odom | Hedwig and the Angry Inch |
| Leslie Arzt | Lost |
| Leslie Harrington | Peyton Place |
| Leslie Winkle | The Big Bang Theory |
| Leslie P. 'Speedy' Raulerson | The Longest Yard |
| Leslie Mahoney | The Great Outdoors |
| Leslie Taylor | The Running Man |
| Leslie Disher | Monk |
| Leslie Dunkling | Porridge |
| Leslie Carlson | A History of Violence |
| Leslie Chowder | Good Luck Charlie |
| Leslie Dean | Runaways |
| Leslie Styles | Nine to Five |
| Leslie Debris | A Mighty Wind |
| Leslie Vernon | Man Seeking Woman |